FIRST THINGS FIRST: Texas Congressman Joe Barton claimed Wednesday that a hearing on his bill to change college football's BCS ranking system should be held in the next month and is supported by President Obama. "There should be a playoff and if it gets to his desk he will sign the bill," Barton said on a Dallas radio show. Nice priorities, guys.

- Rusty Simmons

WHAT A THRILL:The Giants' dugout in spring training was lively, thanks in part to Will Clark. "You can say I was being myself a little bit," Clark said. "Keeping everyone a little loose, hopefully." At Tuesday's opener (because he's not on the big-league coaching staff), Clark sat upstairs, leaving the dugout a little quieter. But before and after, he was in his element, joshing with players and reporters and, yes, keeping everyone a little loose.

PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFULS: The Sharks have a chance tonight to become the first California team to win the Presidents' Trophy, and hardly could ask for a better scenario: It's Fan Appreciation Night, captain Patrick Marleau will be back in the lineup after missing five games, and the team is hosting lowly Phoenix. A win would clinch the award, and losses by Detroit and Boston earlier in the evening also would do the trick.